Fête de Calenzana

The Fiera di Santa Restituta in Calenzana

The Calenzana Festival or Fiera di Santa Restituta is the patron saint festival of the village of Calenzana, in Balagne (Haute-Corse). It celebrates Santa Restituta, a young Roman martyr from the early 4th century, whose relics rest in the chapel named after her at the exit of the village, on the road to Zilia.

Unparalleled Devotion in Balagne

Santa Restituta is the patron saint of Calenzana and all of Balagne, a status officially recognized in 1984 by Pope John Paul II. Local devotion is such that many women in the village bear the name Restituta from generation to generation. Legend has it that after her martyrdom in Carthage around 304, her body was brought back by a boat guided by a donkey to Olmia, the ancient Calenzana. The saint is also credited with having protected the village from the plague.

A Festival Organized by Cal'in Festa

The association Cal'in Festa has been organizing the Fiera di Santa Restituta since 2009. Since 2023, it has partnered with the youth association Allegria Calinzaninca to share the organization. The program combines religious ceremonies (solemn mass, procession of the statue of Santa Restituta), traditional entertainment, workshops, demonstrations, free concerts, a craft market of regional products, and a funfair for children.

An Intergenerational Gathering

The Fiera di Santa Restituta brings together Calenzanais and visitors around sharing, tradition, and spirituality. The village is adorned with thousands of small lights and flowers along the procession route. The Monday following the festival is traditionally a public holiday in Calenzana, marking the deep attachment of the commune to its patron saint.